How Has Your Kit Changed Over the Past Year?

[Beo]

Okay, I gotta ask. How has your Kit changed over the past year?
I used to go mostly early American Trekking using only 1750s kit, but I have actually changed a ton.
Now I carry a Maxpedition Jumbo Versi Pak and small backpack.
I carry a change of clothing w/socks and shoes,
medical kit,
space blanket,
six chemlights,
five MREs,
two quarts of water,
a military compass and map of the area I'm going into
flashlight & spare batteries,
fire starter & tinder box/waterproof matches,
twenty five feet of 550 para cord,
small roll of duct tape,
Seal Pup Knife usually on my belt,
a fork & spoon,
military entrenching tool (folding), and a few other odds and ends.
A better breakdown...
15 Pouches of Datrex Water each box has a 5 year shelf-life
10-200 Calorie Food Bars 5 year shelf-life
Military waterproof bag
Emergency Poncho with Hood
2 Person Tube Tent with Rope
Nomex Gloves
Personal Hygiene Kit includes Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, 9 Handy Wipes
4 Tissue Packs all purpose
1 Can Opener
3 tubes of super glue
4 Body Warmers last for 16 to 20 hours
40 Water Purification Tablets. Each tablet purifies 1 liter of water
US Army Ranger Handbook

So how have you changed if at all. Just curious. All this is going with me to Afghanistan (Except I'm taking more clothes and sunglasses)
Beo,

[pete lynch]

Not much except changed containers. I have started using the UTG version of the versipack, (actually 2, one is my canoe bag) for my main kit. I bought a big military style duffel for a main BOB that I keep packed to carry in my truck or walk out with.
I bought a couple zippered pouches from Goodwill to hold my fire stuff.
The rest is tweaks: I have put more store-bought tinder (Quik Tinder and esbit fuel) in my fire kits than I have in the past. I added a few more things to my 1st aid kits as I learn more 1st aid.
A 16th inch drill bit for those fingernail hematomas, for instance.

[Omega]

I think as we all learn more and test our kit more (you are testing what you've packed, aren't you?), we see changes we can or need to make.

For instance, Pete just reminded me to pack a drill bit in my medical kit. That is something I had overlooked.

And I thought I was ready for anything...

[crashdive123]

I think as we all learn more and test our kit more (you are testing what you've packed, aren't you?), we see changes we can or need to make.

For instance, Pete just reminded me to pack a drill bit in my medical kit. That is something I had overlooked.

And I thought I was ready for anything...

Why do you carry a drill in your medical kit?

[hunter63]

Why do you carry a drill in your medical kit?

I assuming it's for drilling out blood blisters from under finger nails, to relieve pressure.
A safety pin will serve the same purpose, as well as a whole lot of other uses, and a whole lot easier to keep track of.

Then could be wrong?

[Rick]

+1 on the safety pin.

[crashdive123]

I've used a heated paperclip to relieve the pressure under a finger nail. Hurts like the dickens, but when you're done, feels soooo much better.

[Rick]

I believe in prevention. Would you hold this nail for me?

[crashdive123]

I've never had to do it in the wild. Twice on board ship was enough to convince me not to do it anymore (I'm a slow learner)

[huntermj]

I moved from from a semi arid climate to the northeast woodlands. So i dont carry much water here, Its everywhere and a signal mirror is useless with the canopy. And it goes down to -20 here so in the winter so i will carry both a ridge rest and a thermarest for insulation from the ground. Heck its still augest and the leaves are just starting to turn. Other then that all is the same as i always use a -20 sleeping bag.

[Alec_end]

Because I am still relative new to this I am finding that the more that I learn and the more skills I gain that lighter my pack gets.

[SARKY]

It gets heavier.... or maybe i'm getting older!

[pete lynch]

I assuming it's for drilling out blood blisters from under finger nails, to relieve pressure.
A safety pin will serve the same purpose, as well as a whole lot of other uses, and a whole lot easier to keep track of.

Then could be wrong?

I'm a carpenter by trade. I have always used a drill bit (of 1/16" or smaller) to let the blood out of a fingernail thats been wacked with a hammer. Twirled between finger and thumb, it is less painful than jabbing the fingernail with a red hot pin. Or at least it is to me. I use a quick-change bit now. They have a hexed shaft that makes the twirling operation even easier.

[ericgarner118]

I've just recently started getting into backpacking, so my pack is still under construction. I have a lot of the basics that I have read that I've needed, but haven't yet had the chance to test it out yet. Previously all my out doors experience was more camping with the family than light packing. My mom could pack everything, and I mean everything, into the vehicle to go camping. My wife and I plan on having our packs weigh about 25-35 lbs each. The first weekend of Sept. we're gunna head out and test them out.

[crashdive123]

I've just recently started getting into backpacking, so my pack is still under construction. I have a lot of the basics that I have read that I've needed, but haven't yet had the chance to test it out yet. Previously all my out doors experience was more camping with the family than light packing. My mom could pack everything, and I mean everything, into the vehicle to go camping. My wife and I plan on having our packs weigh about 25-35 lbs each. The first weekend of Sept. we're gunna head out and test them out.

Have fun on your trip. Make sure you let us know how it went, and don't forget - pictures! We need pictures!

[Rick]

I'm an advocate of car camping as a first experience. There are a couple of reasons for that.

First, you won't find yourself off the beaten path some miles and find that you forgot something terribly important like medication or a way to purify water. If you do that car camping you have an easy out.

Second, you can still assemble your packs and operate out of them while car camping. You can also find a location with some decent trails (2-5 miles) that will let you shoulder your packs to make certain they are 1) right sized for you, 2) loaded correctly 3) loaded with appropriate weight for you, and 4) decent packs to be carrying.

If you get off into the back country and find any of the above is not right for you then you may well have a miserable time and end your (or your wife's) enjoyment of hiking.

Make note of anything you left behind that you would like to have had or needed as well as anything you didn't use. If you didn't use it but felt you need it then don't remove it. Just keep track of it. If you haven't used it after being out 3 or 4 times then consider the fact that it may be dead weight. That does not apply to safety gear like first aid kits or signaling devices of course.

Good luck and as Crash said, pics!!

[Winter]

I broke a fiskars saw and replaced it with a wyoming saw.

I'm currently rebuilding my PSK around a mess kit.

[ericgarner118]

Car camping is a good idea. We've done that plenty of times before and are going to kinda do what you recommended. We plan on taking are packs and relying heavily on those, but also have the truck with some of the things that we usually take when normally camping. Before we head out, I plan on taking some pics of our packs and a little list of what we have, that way we can keep records of what we have and show how are stuff changes.

[TomChemEngineer]

My packs have evolved from "hiking/ camping" packs to "Get-Home Packs/Get Out of Dodge" packs. Many things are the same, and they can still be used for hiking and camping and I go on these "training trips" with the new contents the same as I used to go with the old contents. The packs themselves are the same (webgear for the GetHome pack and an ALICE Pack for the G.O.O.D. pack), but have added more protection (specific firearms and ammunition) to both, and lightened up/ increased the shelf life for the food bags. Also, turned the "light duty recreational" clothing into "tough utility" clothing in the camping pack. The "hiking/ get-home pack" inner layer clothing is still just spare socks, boxers, and a polo shirt but the clothing in the camping/ G.O.O.D. pack has changed greatly. The big at-home First Aid kits have been escalated to Medical Kits, and my self-imposed first aid/ medical training has taken a definite turn in that direction. I look for ways to use my training now, more than before... just to reinforce the skills... but still keep it low-key. I am more low-key in who knows of my preps now, except with my close friends who are included in my plans. My close friends who are into the preps (and I) talk much more about it now and share our skills/ preps/ and changes. OK, enough for now.

[klkak]

This is an interesting topic for me as I've moved from summer guiding to winter trapping. Most of The regulars here know about the vest I wear while guiding ATV tours. However on the trap line if I were to fall off the boat with that vest on I would surely drown. On the trap line everything I carry is in my pockets and belts.

Pockets have:
fire starter kit
Chap stick
carbide knife sharpener
Laser flare
Bench-made folder
Roll of electrical tape

The belt has:
Leatherman
Flashlight

Pistole belt has:
S&W .44 mag
Medium fixed blade knife
Small folding saw
24rds of ammunition